Scissors for cutting narrow curves

ABSTRACT

A pair of scissors has two elements that are cross-wise rotationally movably assembled in a hinge, each of said elements consisting of a blade and an arm. The arms each terminate in a ring for a user&#39;s finger. The general direction of the blades and the arms in a closed position of the scissors is making an angle large enough to place both rings on the same side of an extension line of the general direction of the blades. The blades are curved and have different lengths and heights, the upper blade being the shorter and higher and optionally provided with a protruding nose part, and the lower blade is relatively narrow and provided with a bulb shaped tip and a chamfered and/or rounded inner edge said distal end of said back edge of said upper blade has a nose part protruding a distance (n 1 ) from the distal end of the cutting edge of the upper blade and having a distance (n 2 ) from the cutting edge of the lower blade in a closed position of the scissors.

This is a nationalization of PCT/DK03/000406 filed Jun. 19, 2003 andpublished in English.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a pair of scissors for cutting shapeinvolving narrow curves as when adapting the shape and size of a hole ina soft, laminated material like a body side ostomy member of an ostomyappliance having a centrally placed hole for accommodating a stoma tofit the stoma optimally.

In connection with surgery for a number of diseases in thegastro-intestinal tract a consequence is, in many cases that the patientis left with an abdominal stoma such as a colostomy, an ileostomy or aurostomy. In such cases or in connection with a fistula the patient willhave to rely on an appliance to collect the bodily material emergingfrom such opening.

Ostomy appliances are well known. Such appliances may be two-piece orone-piece appliances. In both types of appliances, a body side member isattached to the wearer's abdomen, and optionally a receiving member orbag is attached to the body side ostomy member for receiving secretionsfrom the ostomy in case of a two-piece appliance.

When using one-piece appliances, the whole appliance, including theadhesive wafer or pad securing the appliance to the skin is removed andreplaced by a fresh appliance. When using two-piece appliances, the bodyside ostomy member is left in place for several days, and only thereceiving member or bag is replaced.

The service time of the body side ostomy member depends on the amountand aggressiveness of the secretions and of the tightness between thestoma and the body side ostomy member more so, as the access ofaggressive secretions to the skin is causing skin problems.

The tightness between the stoma and the body side ostomy member dependson an accurate adaptation of the size and the shape of the hole in thebody side member to the size and shape of the stoma.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many attempts have been made designing devices in order to ease thecutting of holes in body side ostomy members.

One principle is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,574 in which the devicecomprises a base having a flat top surface which receives the waferflat-wise thereon in a predetermined position relative to a gage whichis engageable by a circular cutter that cuts a circular opening or holein the centre of the wafer, the diameter of the hole corresponding to aprior measurement of the diameter of the particular stoma. Variants ofthis principle, which enables cutting of non-circular holes are alsoknown

Another principle is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,843 in which theostomy wafer is placed between the bottom face of a cylindrical bodymounted with a blade and a base plate whereupon the blade cuts into thewafer and the circular hole cut as the cutter is rotated. Adjustment ofthe blade's distance from the center of the cylindrical body for cuttingdifferent sized holes is accomplished by means of removable adjustmentspacers.

Most of the devices dedicated to adapt a hole in a body side ostomymember to a stoma are quite large and heavy, and also in many casesexpensive, so as a consequence many ostomates rely on an ordinary pairof scissors to adapt the hole in the body side member.

In some instances, a pair of scissors intended for cutting finger nailsare used, as they have a convenient size, and also have curved blades,which eases the cutting of circular holes. Other users prefer scissorsintended for use in connection with fine sewing, as they have morepointed and narrower blades yielding more precision when cutting.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,873,526 discloses a pair of scissors for cuttingbandages and the like wherein the scissors has arms forming an anglewith the blades and wherein the upper and lower blades have differentlength and the lower blade is longer than the upper and the lower bladehas a nose for preventing damage on the underlying surfaces. Thescissors disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,873,526 does not comprisemeasures, which prevents that the upper blade pass under the surface ofthe bandage when the scissors is fully closed.

However, cuffing of materials like adhesive wafers presents a number ofproblems encountered during the cutting process, which are not addressedby the known types of scissors, so there is still a need for a propertool for this purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a pair of scissors having two elementsrotationally movably assembled in a hinge, the orientation of saidelements being generally crossed and in a plane essentiallyperpendicular to the axis of said hinge and said movement of saidelements relative to each other from a closed position to an openposition taking place in said plane, each of said elements consisting ofa blade and an arm, said blades and said arms having hinge ends definedby said hinge and distal ends, said blades being an upper blade and alower blade in a position of use, said blades having cutting edges andback edges, each of said arms terminating in a ring for accommodating afinger of the user, said rings in a closed position of the scissorsdefining an outer angle with said hinge as the centre.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is disclosed more in detail with reference to the drawingsin which

FIG. 1 is showing a pair of scissors of the invention seen from theside,

FIG. 2 is showing an enlargement of the encircled part designated B ofFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is showing a pair of scissors of the invention seen from above,

FIG. 4 is showing a section along the line A—A in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

The invention relates to a pair of scissors for adapting the size of ahole in a material having physical characteristics like those of anostomy wafer, which pair of scissors consists of two elementsrotationally movably assembled in a hinge, the orientation of saidelements being generally crossed and in a plane essentiallyperpendicular to the axis of said hinge and said movement of saidelements relative to each other from a closed position to an openposition taking place in said plane, each of said elements consisting ofa blade and an arm, said blades and said arms having hinge ends definedby said hinge and distal ends, said blades being an upper blade and alower blade in a position of use, said blades having cutting edges andback edges, each of said arms terminating in a ring for accommodating afinger of the user, said rings in a closed position of the scissorsdefining an outer angle defined by lines from said hinge point astangents to said rings, wherein said blades have a general directionrepresented by a line, wherein said arms have a general directionindicated by a line defined as the bisecting line of said angle, saidlines forming an angle large enough to place both of said rings entirelyon the same side of an extension of said direction line of said blades,wherein said blades are curved and wherein said distal end of said backedge of said upper blade has a nose part protruding a distance (n1) fromthe distal end of the cutting edge of the upper blade and having adistance (n2) from the cutting edge of the lower blade in a closedposition of the scissors Ostomy wafers normally have a significantthickness in the area in which the hole is to be cut and this thicknesspresents other problems in process of cutting holes in the wafer.

The thickness provides the wafer with a significant rigidity, so thatordinary symmetrical scissors are difficult to use. It has thereforeproven an advantage to make the scissors in an angular layout so that afirst line between the hinge point and the distal end of the blades anda second line from the hinge point to a contact point between said ringsin a closed position of the scissors make an angle large enough to placeboth of said rings entirely on the same side of an extension of thefirst line, whereby the cutting process can be performed with thefingers operating the scissors moving freely above the surface of thewafer without having to force a bending of the wafer otherwisenecessary.

One of the problems is experienced during cutting when the scissors areclosed completely, in which situation there is a substantial risk thatthe distal ends of the blades will both end up being on the same side ofthe material to be cut, thereby compromising a continuing of thecutting. It has been found, that if the cutting edge of the upper bladeis shorter than the lower blade, the lower blade is prevented fromleaving the lower side of the material when the scissors are closed,i.e. the distal ends of the blades are prevented from being both on theupper side of the material. To address the opposite situation, i.e. inorder to prevent the distal end of the upper blade to get caught underthe lower surface of the material, the height of the distal end of theupper blade may be made larger than the thickness of the material to becut. In this way, a guiding of the upper blade by the slit already cutcan ensure an easy lifting of the upper blade from the closed positionto an open position. A further prevention against the upper bladedipping under the material to be cut is achieved, if the back edge ofthe upper blade on the distal end has a nose part protruding over thecutting edge of the upper blade. The nose part is substantially narrowerthan the height of the distal end of the upper blade in order not tosqueeze the material to be cut when the scissors are completely closed.

The thickness of the material to be cut may cause the lower edge of thelower blade of a normal pair of scissors to have a tendency to deformthe edge of the newly cut part of the hole when continuing cutting acircular hole. When both blades are given a curved shape as known fromscissors for nail cutting this tendency can be reduced. The curve shouldgive the blades a bend towards the side of lower blade, which, for useby right-handed users, would give to a bend to the left when seen fromthe user during use, but a mirrored version for use by left-handed usersas well as a pair of scissors wherein both rings are below the materialto be cut is within the scope of the invention.

In order to further facilitate cutting of narrow curves, at least thelower blade of the scissors is advantageously made low and narrow as ine.g. scissors for sewing work. However, as there is a substantial riskof damaging the pouch when cutting one-piece appliances if the lowerblade is pointed as is the case for scissors for sewing work, the lowerblade is advantageously provided with a bulb-shaped distal end, therebyat the same time protecting the pouch and the user and still keeping theworking part of the blade narrow for easing the cutting of narrowcurves. Furthermore, it has been found, that if the lower edge of thelower blade is rounded and chamfered on the side facing the upper blade,the tendency of this edge of the lower blade to ruin or at least impaira clean cut can be almost eliminated or, when cutting very narrowcurves, significantly reduced.

The thickness of an ostomy wafer combined with the relatively softcentre of the adhesive between the plastics films may result in unwanteddeformation of the adhesive near the cut, and to alleviate this, one orboth of the cutting edges of the blades are preferably given an angle toease penetration of the cutting edge through the wafer.

Ostomy wafers normally are provided with various sorts of plastic filmon the outer surfaces of the adhesive and as these films may be relativehard and also often have a very smooth surface, there is a risk of thescissors slipping on the surface, thereby jeopardizing the cuttingprocess. It may therefore be advantageous to provide one or both of thecutting edges of the blades with a non-slip surface, e.g. rough sandblasting or grinding, the latter preferably made in a transversedirection of the blades.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is now explained more in detail with reference to thedrawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention.

Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows a pair of scissors generallydesignated (1) of the invention for adapting the size of a hole in amaterial having the physical characteristics of an ostomy wafer, saidscissors consisting of two elements (2, 3) rotationally movablyassembled in a hinge (4), the orientation of said elements beinggenerally crossed and in a plane essentially perpendicular to the axisof said hinge and said movement of said elements relative to each otherfrom a closed position to an open position (not shown) taking place insaid plane, each of said elements consisting of a blade (2 a, 3 a) andan arm (2 b, 3 b), said blades and said arms having hinge ends definedby said hinge and distal ends, said blades being an upper blade and alower blade in a position of use, said blades having cutting edges andback edges, each of said arms terminating in a ring (2 c, 3 c) foraccommodating a finger of the user, said rings in a closed position ofthe scissors defining an outer angle (W) defined by lines (L, M) fromsaid hinge point (4) as tangents to said rings. A line (6) representingthe general direction of the blades and a line (7), indicating thegeneral direction of the arms (2 b, 3 b) defined as the bisecting lineof said angle (W), are shown. Lines (6) and (7) intersect in the hingepoint at an angle (X), which in the embodiment shown is large enough toplace both of said rings entirely on the same side of an extension ofsaid first line in a closed position of the scissors. In a morepreferred embodiment, said side is the upper side of a material to becut in a position of use of the scissors. The size of a suitable angleobviously depends on the sizes of the rings (2 c, 3 c) for the fingersand the general size of the scissors. In a preferred embodiment, therelation between the length of the blades and the length of the arms isat least 1:1, more preferred at least 1:1.5, and even more preferred atleast 1:2, which relation has been found to result in sufficiently lowcutting forces and allow for a high precision in the cutting. In thisembodiment, it has been found that the size of the angle (X) should beat least 20° and up to 45° or even more for cutting thicker materialsand more preferred about 35°. In the embodiment shown, the rings (2 c, 3c) are of the same almost circular shape, but other shapes of rings maybe used. Both rings, and especially the lower ring (3 c) may be of adifferent, longer shape for accommodating more than one finger and thescissors may, if desired, be asymmetric and adapted for use by right orleft handed users.

FIG. 2 is showing in a larger scale the portion designated (B) of thedistal ends of the blades of the scissors shown in FIG. 1, defining adifference of lengths (d1) between the cutting edge of the upper bladeand the lower blade, a height (d2) with which the distal end of the backedge of the upper blade stands above the cutting edge of the lower bladeand a nose part of the distal end of the back side of the upper bladeprotruding a distance (n1) from the distal end of the cutting edge ofthe upper blade and having a distance (n2) from the cutting edge of thelower blade in a closed position of the scissors. A difference oflengths (d1) of at least 0.5 mm, more preferred between 1 and 5 mm oreven more for cutting thicker materials, preferably about 3 mm, has beenfound adequate for use with most commonly known ostomy wafers, but adifference of lengths significantly larger, i.e. up to 20 mm may beconvenient when cutting larger holes in materials being difficult tocut, e.g. very thick materials. For the upper blade, it has been found,that if the distal end of the upper blade stands at least 0.5 mm, morepreferred at least 1.5 mm and preferably at least 2.7 mm above thecutting edge of the lower blade, cutting of most of the known ostomywafers can be performed easily, but the distal end of the upper blademay stand even as high as 20 mm above the cutting edge of the lowerblade if necessary when cutting very thick materials. The protrusion(n1) of the nose part over the cutting edge of the upper blade should beat least 0.5 mm, suitably at least 1 mm, and the distance (n2) betweenthe nose part and the cutting edge of the lower blade at least 0.3 mm,suitable at least 0.5 mm, when the scissors are completely closed butdepending on the general size of the scissors and the material to be cutthe protrusion (n1) may be up to 15 mm and the distance (n2) may be upto 15 mm.

The lower blade is generally shaped as if it would end in a point likescissors use for fine sewing work as indicated by the dotted line (8).However, in order to prevent damage to the user or a pouch of an ostomyappliance of which the wafer is to be cut, the end of the lower blade isprovided with a bulb-like tip with a general diameter (d3), which bulbimplies that the lower blade has a minimum height (h) at or near thebulb. The diameter of the bulb (d3) and the minimum height (h) are tosome extent functionally interrelated and also should relate to theoverall size of the scissors. The diameter of the bulb (d3) ispreferably be at least 0.5 mm to secure prevention of damage to e.g. thepouch. At the same time, in order not to compromise cutting of narrowcurves, the diameter of the bulb is preferably not substantially largerthan the difference of length of the two blades, preferably around 3.5mm but bulb diameters up to 10 mm may be convenient when cutting largerholes.

Referring to FIG. 3, the curving of the blades is shown as seen fromabove in a position of normal use. The curve is represented by a meanradius, (R). The radius (R) of the curve may be from 15 mm to 200 mmdepending on the material and the size of the holes to be cut and in apreferred embodiment the radius is from 20 to 60 mm, and is preferablyabout 40 mm. It is understood, that the curves of the two blades aremutually adjusted to preserve a proper cutting functionality.

FIG. 4 shows a section of the scissors of FIG. 1 along the line A—A withthe upper and lower blades (2 a, 3 a) having cutting edges (9, 10). Inthis embodiment, the inner side of the lower edge of the lower blade hasa chamfer (11) and a rounding (12). The chamfer may vary from 0° toabout 60° and the rounding may vary from 0 mm to a radius correspondingto about twice the actual thickness of the lower blade. The sizes ofchamfer and rounding may be adapted to suit the material and the sizesof holes to be cut, but a preferred embodiment may have a chamfer of atleast 15° and up to 45° more preferred about 30° and a rounding varyingfrom 2 mm at the hinge end to 0.5 mm at the point of minimum height.

Also in FIG. 4, the cutting edge (9) of the upper blade makes an angle(Y) with the general plane of the scissors, which angle may be between75° and 15°, preferably between 20° and 50°, and in a more preferredembodiment the angle is about 30°. If the material to be cut indicatesthe need, of course also the lower blade may be angled correspondingly.

One or both of the cutting edges (9,10) may advantageously be providedwith a non-slip surface, e.g. rough sand blasting or grinding, thelatter preferably made in a transverse direction of the blades. In apreferred embodiment, the non-slip surface is a series of transversesharp ridges with a height of approximately 0.25 mm along the cuffingedge of the upper blade, but ridges as low as 0.02 mm and larger ridgesup to 1.5 mm may be useful when cutting thinner or thicker materialsrespectively.

The invention has been described in relation to ostomy wafers having arelatively hard and smooth surface and a softer core, but would beequally suited for cutting other soft, laminated materials presentingsimilar problems when cut, like e.g. wound dressings or even cardboardmaterials.

The invention being thus described, it will be apparent that the samemay be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be recognized by one skilled in the art areintended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

1. A pair of scissors comprising two elements rotationally movablyassembled in a hinge, the orientation of said elements beingsubstantially in a first plane essentially perpendicular to the axis ofsaid hinge and said movement relative to each other from a closedposition to an open position taking place substantially in said firstplane, each of said elements having a blade and an arm, said blades andsaid arms having hinge ends defined by said hinge and distal ends, saidblades being an upper blade and a lower blade in a position of use, saidblades having cutting edges and back edges, each of said armsterminating in a structure configured to accommodate a finger of theuser, both of said blades being curved out of said first plane such thatsaid cutting edges are curved sideways relative to said arms, said backedge of said upper blade being straight along a second planesubstantially perpendicular to said first plane when said scissors arein a closed position, said back edge having a distal end with a nosepart in line therewith and protruding a first distance from the distalend of the cutting edge of the upper blade, said nose part having alower surface generally parallel with said straight back edge and spaceda second distance from, and in a direction generally perpendicular to,the cutting edge of the lower blade in said closed position of thescissors.
 2. The pair of scissors according to claim 1 wherein a distaledge of said upper blade below said nose and extending said seconddistance is oriented to be substantially perpendicular to said upperblade back edge.
 3. The pair of scissors according to claim 1 whereinsaid upper and lower blades have a difference of lengths, the lowerblade being the longer blade.
 4. The pair of scissors according to claim1 wherein said structure for accommodating the user's finger on each ofsaid two arms is a ring, said rings in a closed position of the scissorsdefining a first angle defined by lines from said hinge point astangents to said rings, said blades having a general directionrepresented by a first line, said arms having a general directionindicated by a second line defined as the bisecting line of said firstangle, said lines making a second angle large enough to place both ofsaid rings entirely on the same side of an extension of said firstdirection line of said blades.
 5. The pair of scissors according toclaim 1 wherein a main part of said lower blade tapers toward saiddistal end which is provided with a rounded bulb.
 6. The pair ofscissors according to claim 5, wherein said bulb is joined with saidtapered main part at a point generally aligned with a base of said nosepart in a closed position of the scissors.
 7. The pair of scissorsaccording to claim 1 wherein said back edge of said lower blade isprovided with a chamfer inwardly.
 8. The pair of scissors according toclaim 1 wherein said back edge of said lower blade is provided with aninwardly placed rounding.
 9. The pair of scissors according to claim 1wherein at least one of said cutting edges is provided with a non-slipsurface.
 10. The pair of scissors according to claim 1 wherein at leastone of said cutting edges makes an angle of less than 75° with saidplane.
 11. A pair of scissors comprising two elements rotationallymovably assembled in a hinge, the orientation of said elements beingsubstantially in a first plane essentially perpendicular to the axis ofsaid hinge and said movement relative to each other from a closedposition to an open position taking place substantially in said firstplane, each of said elements having a blade and an arm, said blades andsaid arms having hinge ends defined by said hinge and distal ends, saidblades being an upper blade and a lower blade in a position of use, saidblades having cutting edges and back edges, each of said armsterminating in a structure configured to accommodate a finger of theuser, both of said blades being curved out of said first plane such thatsaid cutting edges are curved sideways relative to said arms, said upperblade having a straight back edge along a second plane substantiallyperpendicular to said first plane when said scissors are in a closedposition, said upper blade and being shorter than said lower blade, adistal end of said straight back edge having a nose part in linetherewith and protruding a first distance from the distal end of thecutting edge of the upper blade, and said lower blade having a lengthextending beyond said nose part in said closed position of the scissors.12. The pair of scissors according to claim 11, wherein said nose parthas a lower surface generally parallel with said straight back edge andspaced a second distance from, and in a direction generallyperpendicular to, the cutting edge of the lower blade in a closedposition of the scissors.
 13. The pair of scissors according to claim 12wherein a distal edge of said upper blade below said nose and extendingsaid second distance is oriented to be substantially perpendicular tosaid upper blade back edge.
 14. The pair of scissors according to claim11 wherein said distal end of said back edge of said upper blade standsa distance above said cutting edge of said lower blade in the closedposition of the scissors.
 15. The pair of scissors according to claim 11wherein a main part of said lower blade tapers toward said distal endwhich is provided with a rounded bulb.
 16. The pair of scissorsaccording to claim 15, wherein said bulb is joined with said taperedmain part at a point generally aligned with a base of said nose part inthe closed position of the scissors.
 17. The pair of scissors accordingto claim 11 wherein said back edge of said lower blade is provided witha chamfer inwardly.
 18. The pair of scissors according to claim 11wherein said back edge of said lower blade is provided with an inwardlyplaced rounding.
 19. The pair of scissors according to claim 11 whereinat least one of said cutting edges is provided with a non-slip surface.20. The pair of scissors according to claim 11 wherein at least one ofsaid cutting edges makes an angle of less than 75° with said plane.